Arne Thomas Olsen

Arne Thomas Olsen (3 December 1909 – 26 June 2000) was a Norwegian actor, stage producer and theatre director. He was a driving force at Studioteatret, as both actor and producer. Olsen took his examen artium in 1928. He started working for the insurance company Idun in 1931, while also studying mathematics at the University of Oslo. He was awarded the university's gold medal for his mathematical work. He worked for the insurance company for fourteen years, until 1945, when he joined the new Studioteatret. Studioteatret existed from 1945 to 1950. Olsen participated in the opening production, Leonid Leonov's Invasjon in 1945. In 1946 he played in adaptions of Anton Chekhov's A Marriage Proposal, he was "the captain" in Chekhov's The Wedding, and "the father" in William Saroyan's The Beautiful People. In 1947 he participated in The Beggar's Opera and in The Respectful Prostitute. Among his later roles were the emperor in Keiserens nye klær, and "Johan von Ehrenpreiss" in Kjærlighet uten strømper.

Later career In 1950 Olsen worked for Riksteatret, as both actor and speaker. He was employed as actor and stage producer at Det Nye Teater in 1951. He later worked as actor and stage producer at Riksteatret, Den Nationale Scene, Det Norske Teatret, Oslo Nye Teater, Radioteatret and Fjernsynsteatret. He issued the books Olsen fra bakgården (1977), Håpets hotell (1983), Champagne og soloppgang (1988), Takk New York (1991), and Studioteatret: Frihet og fornyelse (1995, together with Else Martinsen). Olsen was chairman for Norsk Sceneinstruktør-Forening from 1962 to 1966, and later honorary member. He was chairman for Norsk Teaterlederforening from 1974 to 1976.